Neal Wallace

A dairy farming couple's letter of concern to Fonterra about board and management decisions has grown into a major campaign, with them receiving "hundreds and hundreds" of phone calls.

Sheep farmers may once again start funding the marketing of wool should they approve changes to Meat and Wool New Zealand's commodity levy.

Fecpak is well on the way to developing a new faecal egg counting kit for deer.

Agriculture Minister David Carter is getting impatient over what he sees as a lack of action to save the wool industry, as yet more salvoes of abuse were exchanged and prices continued to tumble.

New  penalties for Fonterra suppliers who breach regional council environment rules have prompted a warning that farmers could face double jeopardy.

Dairy farmers are delaying committing to winter grazing contracts with many taking the view graziers were asking too much.

Silver Fern Farms announced yesterday it has a bank waiver for not complying with its minimum shareholder's funds covenant last December.

The seasonal shut-down of meat processing plants is occurring up to 11 weeks earlier than usual while some companies are working short days as predictions of a 23% reduction in lamb numbers prove accurate.

The global financial crisis has claimed another capital works project, with New Zealand Dairies announcing the deferral of expansion plans for its Studholme factory.

International dairy prices have shown tentative signs of bottoming out.

A retired High Court judge has been appointed to mediate a resolution between former business sweethearts, Silver Fern Farms and PGG Wrightson, but the move does not preclude the Dunedin meat company from taking legal action.